Tobacco pipe reamer



Nov. 12, 1963 w, GRAFF 3,110,316

TOBACCO PIPE REAMER Original Filed Feb. 2, 1961 INVENTOR. 2 4, 04. 601' GECQFR 3,110,316 TOBACCQ PEPE REAL ER Paul W. Graft, Indiana, Pa., assignor to North American Gear Company, Blairsviiie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Continuation of application Feb. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 86,750.

This application Sept. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 138,541 1 Claim. (Cl. 131-246) This invention relates to reamers for cleaning the bowls of tobacco pipes. This application is a continuation of my copending application, Serial Number 86,750, filed February 2, 1961, now abandoned.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide such a reamer which is strong and durable, which is adjustable for bowls of different diameters, which remains rigid in every adjusted position, and which is compact and simple in construction.

In accordance with this invention, the pipe reamer is formed from a pair of T-shape members that are disposed face to face in engagement with each other. Each of the members has an upper horizontal transverse bar and a flat reaming blade extending downwardly from the lower edge of the bar centrally thereof. One of the bars is provided in one side with a longitudinal channel and the other bar has a tongue that is slidably mounted in the channel. The first bar also is provided with a longitudinal slot, and the second bar may have a hole in its tongue registering with the slot. Screwed into the hole is a thumb screw that extends through the slot and has a collar pressed against the outside of the slotted bar. The screw clamps the two bars together by being screwed into a nut fitting in a groove in the back of the second bar. When the thumb screw is loosened, the two bars can be moved lengthwise relative to each other to adjust the blades laterally across each other in order to vary the eifective width of the blades. The screw then can be tightened to hold the blades in that position. As long as they overlap, clockwise rotation will press them firmly against each other.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the reamer;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken on the line II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the reamer;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on the line IV-IV of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view showing the reamer adjusted to a larger size.

Referring to the drawing, the pipe reamer consists of two main parts; a pair of T-shape members disposed face to face in engagement with each other. These are formed from vertical reaming blades and a horziontal handle for turning them in a pipe bowl to clean the bowl and cut away some of the charred wood. The handle is formed from two rectangular metal bars and 18 that are placed face to face against each other. The front horizontal transverse bar 15 is provided with the longitudinal channel 16 and preferably has integral flanges 17 extending along the opposite edges of the channel in a common plane. The other bar 18 is shaped in the same general way as the first one and the two bars nest together. The flanges 19 of the back bar engage the back flanges 17, and the central portion of the bar forms a tongue 20 that fits snugly but slidably in channel 16. The portion of the bar that is offset to form the tongue leaves a wide groove 21 in the back of the bar. Preferably, the bars have the same length, width and thickness.

The two bars are held together by a thumb screw 23 that extends through a longitudinal slot 24 in channeled lee bar 15 and through a hole 25 (FIG. 2) in the other bar and into a nut 26 disposed in groove 21. The nut is prevented from turning by engagement with the opposite sides of the groove. Neither the nut nor the screw projects from the groove. The screw has an integral head or collar 27 that engages the outer face of the slotted bar beside the slot so that the two bars can be clamped tightly together. Preferably, a thumb piece 28 is hinged in the collar to permit the screw to be turned. When the screw is loosened, one bar can he slid lengthwise of the other one, which will increase the length of the handle as shown in FIG. 5.

The reaming blades 30 and 31 are fiat and the same size and normally are superimposed face to face so that they appear to be a single thick blade. The blades are joined at their upper ends preferably integrally, to the central portion of the handles at the lower edges thereof. Each blade tapers toward its free end, which is rounded. As shown in FIG. 4, it is preferred to provide one side edge of one blade with a cutting edge and the opposite side edge of the other blade with a similar cutting edge. It then becomes desirable to insure that when the blades are adjusted laterally across each other; i.e. spread apart, the cutting edges will be at the outer edges of the combined wide blade. This is done by locating the thumb screw, when the handle is completely telescoped, at the end of slot 24 that is closer to the cutting edge of the blade projecting from the slotted bar 15, as shown in FIG. 1. With this arrangement, the slotted bar can be moved in only one direction away from the other bar, and that direction is the one in which the cutting edges of the two blades will be moved farther apart as the handle is lengthened. When the reamer has been adjusted to expand the blades the desired amount, as shown in FIG. 5, the thumb screw is tightened to lock them in that position. The overlapping bars then serve as the handle for rotating the blades in a pipe bowl. After use, the handle can be telescoped again to reduce the reamer to its 1original size in order to occupy as little space as possib e.

The pipe reamer disclosed herein is very strong and durable. Unlike some other reamers, the blades will remain in any relative positions to which they are adjusted without scissoring, because the handle tongue and channel are so large and fit together so snugly that the two bars do not rock on each other other even if the thumb screw is not perfectly tight. The reamer is easily adjusted to any desired size by simply loosening the screw, sliding the handle bars, and tightening the screw.

Each T-shape half of the reamer, bar and blade, can be stamped out by suitable dies and then the two parts quickly assembled by the thumb screw and nut. There are no other parts to assembly or rivet together.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

A tobacco pipe reamer comprising a pair of T-shape members and each having an upper horizontal transverse bar and a flat reaming blade extending downwardly from the lower edge of the bar centrally thereof disposed face to face in engagement with each other along only one side, one of the bars being provided in one side with a longitudinal channel and the other bar having at one side an integral longitudinal tongue slidably mounted in the channel, the opposite side of said other bar having a longitudinal groove, the channeled bar being provided with a longitudinal slot and the other bar having a hole through it registering with one end of the slot, a nut positioned in and engageable with the opposite sides defining said groove and a thumb screw extending through said slot and screwed into said nut, the screw having a collar pressed against the outside of the channeled bar to clamp the bars together to form a handle, the blades being adjustable laterally across each other by the bars when the bars are slid lengthwise relative to each other after said screw has been loosened, whereby the efiective Width of the blades can be varied.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Aughe Dec. 8, 1885 Lester Dec. 19, 1905 Denman et al Jan. 5, 1909 Malsbury Mar. 29, 1932 Daugherty Sept. 20, 1932 Brinnon et a1 Feb. 28, 1939 Edmondson Oct. 18, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 22, 1889 

